All of those competing on the elaborate stage featuring a miniature Abraham Lincoln statue were playing for a chance to win $50,000 - for a charity of their choosing.

The media was permitted to watch the tapings of the shows, which will air the week of May 14, but not to write about them. However, the press was allowed to report on the rehearsals that took place before each regular show taping.

The first rehearsal match pitted Gibbs against Matthews and Lizzie O’Leary.

Gibbs jumped to an early lead by nearly sweeping the category “Nature,” winning $1,000 for correctly identifying a picture of a Redwood tree, and getting four out of five in the category “That’s the Spirit” by naming different types of alcohol.

Matthews got the biggest round of applause of the three contestants when he was introduced to the 2,000-strong audience at DAR Constitution Hall and was a favorite to win among the press corps at the event.

However, the MSNBC host struck out during the rehearsal, finishing with zero points after losing Final Jeopardy. Under the category “21 st Century News,” with the clue, “Discovered in 1930, in 2006 this was downgraded to a ‘dwarf,’” Matthews answered, “What is a midget?” to wild laughter from the audience.

Gibbs and O’Leary both answered correctly, “Pluto,” giving them $18,799 after the first rehearsal of the day.

Gibbs, ever the Barack Obama loyalist, told the press that the president would no doubt beat him in a round of “Jeopardy!”

“I have to say, the president would win,” Gibbs said, in response to a question from POLITICO.

“You know, it’s amazing how different people are out here than they are backstage. You said the exact opposite backstage,” joked Matthews. “He was saying he could kill the guy. Why are you changing your tone out here?”